DEOXIDATION Meaning and
Definition
-
Deoxidation is a chemical process that involves the removal of oxygen from a substance or environment. It is commonly performed in various industries, particularly in metallurgy and chemistry, to prevent oxidation or to recover metals from their oxides. The process is crucial because oxygen can have detrimental effects on many materials, including metals and organic compounds.
In metallurgy, deoxidation is carried out to reduce the oxygen content in molten metals, such as steel, iron, or copper alloys. This process is necessary to improve the quality and physical properties of the metal, as oxygen can cause brittleness and other undesirable characteristics. Deoxidizing agents, such as silicon, aluminum, or calcium, are often added to the molten metal to react with the oxygen and form stable oxides that can be easily removed.
In chemistry, deoxidation is employed to convert a substance that contains oxygen to a reduced form. For instance, in organic chemistry, deoxidation reactions are used to remove oxygen atoms from functional groups like carbonyl groups (C=O) to form alcohols. These reactions are typically facilitated by reducing agents such as LiAlH4 or sodium borohydride.
Deoxidation is an important step in many industrial processes, as it helps in enhancing the properties, purity, and stability of substances by eliminating oxygen or oxygen-containing compounds.
-
Depriving a chemical compound of its oxygen.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
Common Misspellings for DEOXIDATION
Etymology of DEOXIDATION
The word "deoxidation" can be broken down into two parts: "de-" and "oxidation".
The prefix "de-" comes from the Latin word "de", which means "away" or "remove". It is used in English to indicate the reversal or undoing of something. For example, in this case, "de-" signifies the removal or reduction of the process of oxidation.
The term "oxidation" stems from the Latin word "oxidare", which means "to combine with oxygen". It originated from the word "oxys" meaning "acid" and "genesis" meaning "origin". Over time, "oxidation" came to refer to the chemical reaction in which a substance combines with oxygen, often resulting in the production of heat or light.
Infographic
Add the infographic to your website:
